http://www.cyclenews.com/ShowStory.asp?HeadlineID=12246

This is great news for a fan of Zemke.
He's not good enough for an American Superbike ride but he gets a wildcard in WSBK.
F U American Honda.
The learning curve is going to be immense for him.
New bike, track and tires. I don't expect him to compete but at the very least least it injects
a greater interest in the race for a lot of Americans.
I feel they totally screwed up not allowing any wildcards into the American round.

Hopefully he can get into the top 10.

Kool! Pressures on i guess. Anyone think hes gonna make his chance count?

Zemke is the typical American rider (of modern times anyway)--quiet and hard working.

I'd like to think he will make an impact, but honestly the AMA is not a fantastic place to sharpen aging skills.

I wish him the best

He doesn't crash very often and even on a bad weekend he is always running inside the top ten.

His career took a step backward this year so I think he is smart enough to realize this could really help him out so I would say he is going to try to make a statement.

Damn
They are reporting the deal was too last minute and now Zemke can't make it.
Gutted

Now that they've dangled the carrot I'm even more pissed that Miller won't have any wildcards.

I read it but never believed it.

Oh yeah, no wild cards in Utah, haha, is somebody afraid?

I would expect that more US based riders will be looking overseas if the change to 600cc goes through within the AMA.

This doesn't mean just WSBK but also the major series in Europe (ie. BSB etc) as that will then get their names in front of a wider audience and open up their prospects. One only has to look at the majority of Aussies over the last ten or so years as an example of going overseas, getting results and doors opening.

Whilst this one may not have come through I will give credit to Zemke at least getting his name out there but wanting to take the opportunity (I say this with no real first hand knowledge of his results or ratings of him).




Garry

Yea its a shame isn't it, i love wildcards. Apparently there is a sponsorship issue, i can only assume Pirrelli have demanded that a direct comparison is not drawn to their tyres.

Gary, do you not get AMA races where you're from? Ah man, I think you would enjoy seeing Jake Zemke (runner up a few times) mix it up with Josh Hayes (current champ) and Ben Bostrom (former champ) and Josh Herrin (future champ). If you haven't caught on, you will notice most American posters saying the lower classes are really what keeps people on the edge of their seat (Superbike is a dud).

Zemke is one of those nice guys in the paddock that everybody roots for, even his competitors, because he's a hard working, honest, no hype, no ego, very humble, down to Earth racer. On the track, he is a respected professional. He's been close to earning a title, but he's had some bad luck (no fault DNFs). Honda let him go last year and on a satellite Honda team he is causing them much embarrassment to everybody's enjoyment (even the commentators). He is not the best America has to offer in talent but he is certainly one of the best human beings that happens to be a racer.

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I'm with you there Jumkie...it's that 'perma-smile' that's so infectious. You always get the sense he love that he does..and he never seems downcast!

Nope, don't really get AMA in Oz and if/when we do it is generally up to 12 months behind and even then, often if it is shown it is out of sequence.

But, I do know that the Superbikes is pretty much out of Mladin/Spies and the Suzuki team but we get no coverage of other classes at all..





Garry

It's a shame this never materialized. Zemke has appeared to me to be amongst the best AMA regulars not riding a Suzuki, but i don't hear a lot of fuss about him. Whats the deal, is he going down or coming up? Is he likely to move to the world series anytime, or stay in the domestic series forever?